2021 Toyota Camry XSE Is A Fantastic Mid-Size Sedan
A 2021 Toyota Camry XSE trim is a fantastic midsize sedan. But believe it or not, it wasn't the Camry that was sold first in the US. It was the smaller Corolla.
The Camry did not hit the streets until late in 1983. Camry was a little late to the party. The Honda Accord was in 1976, but things have changed since then.
There is no longer a lot of focus on sedans. It's more about SUVs. But you know what? Toyota sticking to its roots, staying true to itself.
They know that this Camry is still a top seller. Some new competition definitely did not exist, back in 1983, the Hyundai Sonata, the KIA k5, the Mazda 6, and the Honda Accord.
What you want to do is to look at the 2021 Toyota Camry. I also want to talk about it. But what I want to find out is this really still the most excellent sedan? Because that's what Toyota says.
It's the most extraordinary mid-size sedan of all time? So let's go ahead and find out what 2021 XSE all about.
2021 Camry XSE Exterior
There are some changes right at the front when you go XSE. If you know your Toyota trims, you would know that that is the sportier of the trims.
It's nice that you can have a sporty appearance, but you still have engines underneath the hood. We'll talk about that in a little bit.
You got all the new changes for 2021. You're going to get new headlight housing and daytime running lamps.
You're still going to have the LED headlights. The look gives it an excellent signature quality. At night it really likes you could see it from a mile away, that something is different.
The metallic gray finish is nice, but you have a sizeable fake vent area on an XSE trim. I wish Toyota would have done something to make it a functional side air curtain.
We are not talking about cooling brakes or anything like that but making it a functional side air current.
What you'll like about it is how far it extends off the front fascia. But at the end of the day, this is just for looks only.
At the bottom portion, you're gonna have lovely flat silver lower lip spoiler. As you come across the rest of the front of the Toyota Camry, subtle changes.
You're gonna still get the same iconic badge in the center. The way it's kind of framed with some portion of the front fascia is excellent.
Everything is functional up top in the middle and functionality down below.
The way Toyota carries the silver all the way across on the XSE trim is lovely. You're going gonna have a metallic black finish, which really gives it just a nice overall balance.
On the hood, the body lines come up, go right towards the windshield. Before it makes contact with the windscreen, it kind of just curves off and disappears.
The more enormous rise flows nicely right into the a-pillar.
With the 2021 generation, Toyota continues to still have an aggressive look. Let's be honest before the current generation hit the streets, things were looking a little bland.
Even though Camrys were selling very well, but they sort of look like refrigerators. However, this one though definitely has a lot of styles.
Around the bend, the style continues. You have a nice multi-spoke gloss black wheel.
The kind of wheel, especially with a particular color, is fantastic.
The 19-inch wheels are big enough. You get a low 40 series sidewall on it. So it's a bit unusual that Toyota went so low on a non-TRD Camry.
But it's a 19-inch wheel and 235 on width. It's a front-wheel-drive, but now you can get Camry's all-wheel drive also.
The subtle fender lines look great. A lot of people miss how this body line picks up correctly in the fender.
We are happy because Toyota didn't put a fake vent or anything. It just goes all the way down almost the whole side of the vehicle.
The color mesh on the mirror caps and a little bit of chrome trim is excellent.
You got led turn signals plus some shiny metal worktop and bottom with some gloss design in the center.
You do have The panoramic sunroof blacked out. The whole roof looks clean. You know, even the shark fin antenna blacked it all out gives it a nice clean look.
You have color matched on the door handles. You'll notice on the XSE trim that lower side sill extension how it drops down and then tapers in as it comes to the rear.
At the rear, you get a tasteful trunk-mounted spoiler but nothing too crazy. However, it gives a nice little extra element of design.
Toyota has done a great job with the taillights, especially how far it wraps in and around.
Unfortunately, there is a fake vent on the side. But you can see Camry XSE went for a little bit extra width to make it a little functional. So some airflow through it just for aerodynamic purposes.
At the bottom portion, the XSE trim gets the quad-tip exhaust. They're staggered and fully functional.
Even the way that Toyota did the Camry badge, it's tasteful. Very 21st century in the font design and a clear, simple simulated rear diffuser. That's all you need, nice low wide.
Toyota Camry Engine
What's powering your particular XSE? Under the hood, you do have a prop rod.
Now, it is nice to have the four and the six-cylinder option.
We kind of think that if you're going to have an XSE trim, you automatically get the V6 engine.
You have a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, 203 horsepower, 184 pound-feet of torque with a four-cylinder.
All mated to an eight-speed automatic. So no CVTs, which is good news.
0-60 in about 6.8 s, mpg is excellent around 27 in the city 38 on the highway.
The vehicle weighs around 3,425 pounds. Not only that, but you're also getting excellent Toyota reliability.
Toyota Camry XSE Interior
The 2021 Toyota Camry has some updates. Yes, still in the midsize segment.
The door panels have a lot of dark material.
But the good news is a lot of soft material.
You will like the way Toyota made a decent attempt to be a little stylish.
Toyota taking the silver from the door handle to open up the door and then making it into some trim.
You do have some soft armrests with some white contrast stitching. The bad news is a tiny door pocket.
The dash still has the same soft material. You will love the design since Toyota did not look like faux carbon fiber. But definitely better than just gloss black.
You'll find soft touch with the white contrast stitching everywhere. Just like on the door panels, all-new for the 2021 Camry.
You do have a 9-inch infotainment system. The way Toyota attempted to integrate it a little bit better on this 21 Camry.
You have Apple Carplay, android auto, and navigation. It is a touch screen. You can hit the buttons on the side, go into your different features, and just go back to the map.
The backup camera is required by law. However, it's a little grainy. The good news is that it fills up the whole 9 inches display and seems ideal.
You do have the trajectory, but it is grainy. You can switch angles, which is nice.
You can even change the angle of the trajectory colors and everything.
The AC vents are very clean. You do have dual climate control, which is a nice touch. You"ll love the way Toyota went flat black on the buttons. Instead of shiny silver start-stop buttons, you got gunmetal gray.
You do have a USB, a 12-volt wireless charging pad, and smart storage underneath. One thing you should remember is an eight-speed automatic, no CVT.
You got some nice simulated leather. The shift boots looking tasteful. You have three drive modes, as always: Sport, Normal, and Eco.
The flat black standard key fob is friendly with the Toyota Camry badge on it. It's light, and it won't give you any kind of radiation damage.
You do have heated seats but no ventilated seats. In the center storage, you have two more USBs.
The seats are wrapped with soft faux leather.
A little bit of microfiber suede just to bring a little bit of style to the seats.
Nothing too crazy on the bolstering. It is an electric assist for the passenger and the driver.
You got a little bit of a lighter headliner, but the great news is the panoramic sunroof button. You will love that, especially for the people sitting in the back; slides really clean and smooth.
You got plenty of headroom. It feels perfect and a little more driver-focused.
Behind the Wheel
2021 Camry XSE has a full electric assist. The way Toyota got the lower lumbar is excellent, especially on longer trips. The seats feel great with plenty of headroom.
You wish Toyota would do something a little different to the horn button, but the thickness is excellent easy to understand.
You got all your safety features, and it is tilting and telescoping. You do have massive paddles on the steering wheel's back to go up and down an eight-speed automatic.
XSE means sports, so you're gonna get a little bit of red sprinkled on the dash. It looks classy. You'll like the red needles on the analog gauges. Then you have a seven-inch display. You could toggle through a bunch of information like lane keep assist and all that good stuff.
Of course, you got different drive modes as well. Overall the layout is super clean and understandable.
Backseats
The 2021 Camry XSE midsize sedan offers so much room. Toyota Camry does a great job giving you a ton of space for passengers.
You do have super-sized pockets, which is excellent. You got rear AC vents, which are easy to operate. Toyota gave us two USBs nicely led illuminated and two cup holders.
Cargo Space
You have no electric assist, but it nice wide opening. It shows why a sedan is still relevant in the 21st century because you got plenty of trunk space in the 2021 Camry XSE.
You're getting 15.1 cubic feet of space, and the great news is the seats will do the 60/40 split. So you can get longer or larger objects inside.
Underneath the cargo floor, you do get a spare. So that you're not stuck on the side of the road wishing that you had one.
Driving Behaviour of Toyota Camry XSE 2021
The 2021 Toyota Camry XSE with the four-cylinder really has enough power to move this midsize sedan. But definitely, looking out the windshield, you still have some excellent visibility.
The all-new 9-inch infotainment system is easy to reach and easy to get.
We are glad that Toyota added Apple Carplay and Android Auto since that is some technology that people especially want.
You wish it was wireless. It would have been nice if Toyota updated it to put wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
You have a very smooth, naturally aspirated power. The thickness of the steering wheel feels nice, and the seats feel great.
The seats are super comfy, with excellent electric assist with the lower lumbar.
Even with it being a midsize sedan definitely get you going. But if you need more, you can have more with the V6. What we are noticing, though, is that it's quiet inside.
The panoramic sunroof is excellent, and gauges with nice red lighting look perfect, especially at a quick glance.
But if you need the digital, you got a 7-inch display in the center. So Toyota got you covered both ways.
The back seats are spacious, and there's plenty of room in the trunk, which is excellent.
It's actually quite surprising for a four-cylinder because we thought it was gonna be slower. But to be honest with you, it feels pretty good.
What we love about the Camry is just the fact that there are so many different ways to option. You have so many other trims that there is really a Camry for everybody.
If you want that sporty look, but you still want that better fuel economy out of a four-cylinder, you could get it with a particular Camry XSE.
We've noticed it is a little buzzier once you get up to around 6000 rpm but still very impressed with what it's doing.
You can see navigation from the infotainment system; getting to all the controls is really smart.
Definitely, the larger screen is a big plus, and all the mirrors are perfectly placed nicely.
The handling feels really great. Toyota seems to have a little bit lighter steering than a Honda Accord or even a Mazda6. But if you want more excellent handling capability, you can opt-in for the Camry TRD.
You know as to be expected, although XSE you think Toyota put a little bit stiffer springs.
Still, we believe what most people will use this for will be totally fine, especially if you're doing a ton of daily driving where maybe the roads are not the smoothest.
Toyota Camry XSE Price
Well, should you take this Camry? Should you put it on your list of vehicles you want to drive? Ok, the Camry XSE trim MSRP is $ 34,495.
We think the 2021 Toyota Camry XSE would do the job well for a mid-size sedan.
Hopefully, this full review gave you a nice overall feel of the Toyota Camry XSE for 2021. If you are looking at a mid-size, you're not going to want to forget about the Camry.